Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security

Botulinum Toxin

█ BRIAN HOYLE

Botulinum toxin is among the most poisonous substances known. The toxin,
which can be ingested or inhaled, and which disrupts transmission of nerve
impulses to muscles, is naturally produced by the bacterium
Clostridium botulinum
. Certain strains of
C. baratii
and
C. butyricum
can also be capable of producing the toxin.

Botulinum toxin has become well known in recent years for two reasons.
First, the toxin has become a weapon in the arsenal of terrorists.
Contamination of food is one route for infection with the toxin. The toxin
can also be released into the air, which was attempted on at least three
occasions between 1990 and 1995 by the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo. The
government of Iraq admitted to United Nations inspectors following the
1991 Persian Gulf War that tens of thousands of liters of botulism toxin
had been produced and loaded into weapons. The toxin was the most numerous
of all the biological weapons then developed by Iraq.

Paradoxically, the other reason for the toxin's fame is the use of
the toxin as a cosmetic enhancement (i.e., "botox").

There are at least seven structurally different versions of botulinum
toxin. The type designated as type A is responsible for some food-borne
outbreaks in the United States and elsewhere. Improperly canned foods are
a particular threat.

Clostridium botulinum
is a spore-forming bacterium. Like the well-known anthrax bacillus, the
spores of
Clostridium botulinum
can persist in the environment for many years and, when conditions become
more favorable (i.e., in a wound, food, and the lungs) the spore can
germinate and free the toxin. Dried preparations of the spores can thus
represent a terrorist weapon.

The use of botulinum toxin as a weapon began in the 1930s, with
experiments conducted by the Japanese on prisoners during the occupation
of Manchuria. In World War II, plans were made to vaccinate Allied troops
participating in the D-day invasion of Normandy, because of concerns that
Germany had weaponized the toxin. Even the United States maintained an
active biological weapons program, including the use of botulism toxin,
into the late 1960s.

Botulism toxin acts by preventing the transmission of nerve signals
between the nerves that connect with muscle cells. Progressive functional
deterioration of the affected muscles occurs. Symptoms of botulism
intoxication include dizziness, blurred or double vision, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness of muscles in various areas of the body.
The muscle failure can be so severe as to lead to coma and respiratory
arrest. Even in those who survive exposure to the toxin, complete recovery
can take months.